Thanks to Ametia for finding this video about the HUMAN cost of Trumpcare.

This mother from Florida, discussing what Medicaid means to her son and their family. It will break your heart, and enrage you that anyone has to worry about this because sociopaths want to give millionaires and billionaires tax cuts. Please share this video- this is but one of 76 MILLION HUMAN STORIES about Medicaid and who it helps.

Here is another twitter thread about just one story of millions that would be destroyed by Trumpcare. Here are the first two tweets. Follow the thread:

jl says:
June 26, 2017 at 4:53 pm
@Cheryl Rofer: What is weird is the lack of cynical political con tradecraft on display here. According to TPM, the ultimate loss in people covered over the planning horizon is 22 million. But the initial loss soon after passage is higher than the House bill.

15 million people lose coverage next year. NEXT YEAR!

So, the Senate GOP puts these gimmicks in to (edit try* to) protect themselves for 2018, but produce a bill that chops off more people next year (NEXT YEAR!).
I think the rapid immediate losses should be highlighted.

*failed attempt.

Need a slogan like ’15 million lose next year! You’ll see 22 million lose, if you’re still here!”
Just as Horrible, Now Fasterhttp://talkingpointsmemo.com/e…..now-faster

Over the last few days it has become clear what the Republican talking points are when it comes to their efforts to dismantle the Medicaid program. The plan is to lie by suggesting that the AHCA (House version) and the BHCA (Senate version) don’t “cut” funding for the program, but simply slow the rate of growth in the future. Dan Diamond zeros in on why a focus on the rate of funding is a lie.

Here’s the relevant number: 14 million, as in the number of people that CBO says won’t be covered by Medicaid if House bill signed into law. https://t.co/MEwW9LumVZ

— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) June 26, 2017

In the midst of an attempt to obscure what is really going on with the Republican effort to repeal Obamacare, it was fascinating to actually hear Kellyanne Conway make an argument that gets more to the heart of their motivations.

.@KellyannePolls: Obamacare opened up Medicaid to “many able-bodied Americans who should at least see if there are others options for them.” pic.twitter.com/fzqvuwXrXB

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 25, 2017

……………………

But what this really comes down to is the age-old Republican argument about the undeserving poor—a classic dog whistle reference to people of color. The message is that Obamacare provides Medicaid to able-bodied people who don’t want to work. If they’d just go out and find a job, they’d get healthcare through their employer like you and I do. That is strike two.

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Spanky says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:06 pm
@Mnemosyne: @Mike in DC: This, absolutely. I’m also in MD-5 and there are a shit-ton of known faces lined up for when Steny steps down. But there’s a re-energized Democratic Party getting the machine oiled up even in blood-red Calvert County where I am.

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Mike in DC says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:08 pm
@Mnemosyne:

There are 3 delegates from district 22 and 1 senator. 2 of the delegates are currently on their 3rd 4 year term, 1 is on his second. The senator is on his 3rd 4 year term. I think it’s less uphill, but still unlikely. I’ll give it some thought. The filing deadline appears to be February next year.

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The Truffle says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:12 pm
No matter what happens, the GOP has (hopefully) screwed themselves with this. That said, I’m flabbergasted by for Trump voters who are now shocked–SHOCKED–that he’s taking away their healthcare. What did they expect?

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Cheryl from Maryland says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:18 pm
@Mike in DC: Montgomery County here. I think running for the MD General Assembly is a great idea. The Assembly has been okay this session against Hogan, but the Democratic Party in MD needs new blood. The turnout in 2014 was abysmal.

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dlm says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:24 pm
@Librarian: I have no sympathy for these people. Let them die.

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Old Broad in California says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:30 pm
Called Sens. Feinstein’s and Harris’s offices to thank them for their opposition and to tell them that this bill would have awful consequences for me and so many others.

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tesslibrarian says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:31 pm
Had to leave messages last week with Johnny Isakson & David Perdue, so I faxed and emailed them instead.
Today, left a message with Perdue, but Isakson’s voice mail is full, and I can’t seem to get a person. When I’ve talked to district offices, there’s a lot of “oh, we’re not there–we don’t know” stuff that is pretty frustrating, even though the people are nice, so I stay polite, even though I’m pretty sure it’s BS, especially with Perdue.
On the upside, someone will actually be challenging Jody Hice this year, and if she can get funding and her act together, maybe she can make a difference. I’m just happy to have a choice in my district that didn’t involve a write-in campaign for Charles Darwin.

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Mike in DC says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:31 pm
@Cheryl from Maryland: The general assembly seems like a better fit for me than city or county council. Councils seem like a distinctly different career track.

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Jeffro says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:31 pm
I’m telling y’all every single Republican senator has been promised a nice fat cushy job if he or she ends up losing reelection because of their vote for this bill .

We should take it as a given and start a new #BoughtOff

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The Moar You Know says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:34 pm
I have no sympathy for these people.

@dlm: Neither do I.

Let them die.

@dlm: Fuck that. That’s what Republicans do. I help people and animals. I don’t leave them to die.

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Jim, Foolish Literalist says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:34 pm
we really are living with an administration run like a second-tier right-wing radio show

Lachlan MarkayVerified account @ lachlan
Spicer: choice is GOP plan or Bernie’s $32T single payer. “That’s what the alternative is. It’s not a question of Obamacare vs. the AHCA”

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Elizabelle says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Is the doom and gloom that called for? It’s an awful bill. Don’t the hospitals and insurers have some say? Don’t we still have a week?

Glad to be away from US cable news.

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dlm says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:39 pm
@The Moar You Know: I used to be quite a caring individual. I’ve changed.

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Chris says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:44 pm
I called both Tillis and Burr. Got through to Tillis quickly but it took a dozen tries to get through to Burr. Young man who answered the phone said they were busy! I thanked him for his work. Maybe Burr is getting an earful…probably about Trump? But who knows. I felt better after I did my part..as futile as it may have been.

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Baud says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:44 pm
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: But I was told that single payer was immensely popular.

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Baud says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:48 pm
@Elizabelle:

Glad to be away from US cable news.

They are the worst.

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Omnes Omnibus says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:54 pm
I called my good and my bad senator today. Thanked the good one and her staff and asked them to keep up the good work. Urged the bad one to vote no. Right now, he is part of the Gang of Four. I will keep calling.

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Elizabelle says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:55 pm
@Baud: don’t let cable or the horse racers dispirit you guys. This is a moral issue, and it is life vs death and economic destruction.

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Baud says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:57 pm
@Elizabelle: I rarely watch cable news and I’m not dispirited. But to be fair my life isn’t at immediate stake.

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Uncle Cosmo says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:58 pm
@Mike in DC: Take a look at the Delegates. The advantage there is that it’s vote for 3, first 3 past the post – you may have luck with voters who usually support the machine ticket because they know one of the incumbents, asking them for one of their other two votes. Forget how long they’ve been there, look at who’s bankrolling them & how they vote. If you can find daylight between the positions of any one of them & your own, you might have a shot. But resign yourself (unless you’re independently wealthy) to a lot of work going wherever there are 3 voters to rub together & shaking a lot of hands.

It can be done. I was campaign manager for the first outsider in a couple of generations to take a Delegate nomination & then seat away from the Baltimore County Democratic machine. I think he turned 25 during the campaign. There were no more than 20 of us working for the campaign, we threw a crab feast to raise barely enough money for materials, walked a lot of blocks, went to a lot of meetings & handed out a lot of flyers, It was a long time ago. But it can be done!

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D58826 says:
June 26, 2017 at 2:59 pm
I’m sure it’s more complicated but the OBAMACARE mandate is an unconscionably infringement on the freedom of an American. On the other hand it is freedom at its best to lock a person out of the system for 6 months if he drops coverage for whatever reason.

And it is freedom at its best have a system that allows a person to chose their own doctor, even if that doctor will not see you because Trumpcare has kicked you off the system and you can’t pay..

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D58826 says:
June 26, 2017 at 3:00 pm
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Well at least when he fails the smacked ass test you won’t see his pink cheeks on TV.

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Ohio Mom says:
June 26, 2017 at 3:01 pm
@cintibud: It’s funny to me that you have luck with Portman’s Cincinnati number, I live in a Cincinnati suburb and have the most luck getting through to a swarmy intern on his 800 number (listed with the Columbus number on bottom of his home page).

Clearly at this point, they are in hiding. Have you looked at his twitter? Ohioans are ANGRY!

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Mike in DC says:
June 26, 2017 at 3:04 pm
@Uncle Cosmo:

Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.

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Mark says:
June 26, 2017 at 3:05 pm
I have to admit that I don’t and wouldn’t live in a state that would elect senators who would support legislation that intentionally harmed so many. I won’t even change planes in most of those states. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish Lincoln had let the South succeed (with Northern refuge for all slaves), The Senate & Electoral College leave us with a non-representative government ruled by the truly evil.

On Friday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) raised an important argument against the Republican health care plan: “Let us be clear and this is not trying to be overly dramatic: Thousands of people will die if the Republican health care bill becomes law.” Soon after, Hillary Clinton added, “Forget death panels. If Republicans pass this bill, they’re the death party.”

Such talk didn’t impress Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). “The brief time when we were not accusing those we disagree with of murder was nice while it lasted,” the Republican senator wrote.

……………………………………….

The trouble is, whether the truth hurts Republicans’ feelings or not, there’s ample reason to believe Sanders’ and Clinton’s point is true. The Washington Post ran this striking quote over the weekend:

“There has never been a rollback of basic services to Americans like this ever in U.S. history,” said Bruce Siegel, president of America’s Essential Hospitals, a coalition of about 300 hospitals that treat a large share of low-income patients. “Let’s not mince words. This bill will close hospitals. It will hammer rural hospitals, it will close nursing homes. It will lead to disabled children not getting services…. People will die.”

Atul Gawande also spoke to Vox about the available evidence. “The bottom line,” the surgeon and scholar said, “is that if you’re passing a bill that cuts $1.2 trillion in taxes that have paid for health care coverage, there’s almost no way that does not end up terminating insurance for large numbers of people. If you are doing that, then there’s clear evidence that you will be harming people. You will be hurting their access to care. You will be harming their health – their physical health and mental health. There will be deaths. As a doctor, I find this unconscionable.”

Vox’s Sarah Kliff attended an event last week and heard a candid remark from an unnamed Republican member of Congress.

“The way I look at is there is no question we’re getting inundated with calls and emails and protests. There is all this energy and anger on the left. The people who lost are the ones who are angry. We won the entire elected government. So I remind my staff after a long day of hostile calls, it was less than six months we got more votes than a person on the other side in [my state]. The people who voted for me are still out there.”

And in this American lawmaker’s mind, those who didn’t vote for him or her just aren’t especially important.

If this perspective sounds at all familiar, it’s because Donald Trump has explicitly endorsed it. At a White House press conference in March, the president acknowledged the progressive activists who’ve taken to the streets in condemn his agenda, but Trump dismissed their relevance.

“I mean, they fill up our rallies with people that you wonder how they get there,” Trump said, referring to GOP lawmakers who received earfuls at town-hall events, “but they’re not the Republican people that our representatives are representing.”

In other words, “Republican people” count, and others don’t. “Republican people” deserve to be represented on Capitol Hill, and everyone else deserves to be disregarded.

Why are Mitch & @GOP actively trying to crash the economy w/Genocide4TaxCutBill? US – so goes the globe? Are they stupid? #GOPMathFail 1/
— bardgal (@bardgal) June 26, 2017
Or is this coming health industry collapse = economy crash their long-term Reichstag Fire so they can takeover/hold power with forever? #SOS
— bardgal (@bardgal) June 26, 2017

The Congressional Budget Office is due to release their score on the Senate’s BCRA bill at some point today. Here are a few things to remember as you read the score.

Look at the effects at 10 years and beyond
The bill is designed to push the Medicaid cut backs to the right hand side of the budget window and then accelerate those cuts compared to the AHCA.
Senator Murphy (D-CT) has asked and received assurance that the CBO will score coverage losses past 10 years
I think that topline coverage losses will be a bit less from Medicaid in window but match AHCA within two years out of window
Is the 6 month auto-denial period being scored?
This is the Senate Republican replacement of the individual mandate
It was not written into the bill released on Thursday
If CBO scores it how do they score it against both the individual mandate and the 30% single year premium bump. The CBO thinks the individual mandate is reasonably effective at keeping healthier people in the pool while the 30% premium bump is an adverse selection magnet.
What are they projecting with the 1332 waivers on steroids
Current law places strong guidelines on approval of state waivers. States must meet or beat default ACA on coverage, actuarial value, benefits and cost.
Senate BCRA only requires a 1332 waiver to beat default coverage on federal cost.
These make the MacArthur/Upton amendments simple modeling exercises
How do they project market functionality in extreme 1332 states?

I still think they’re going to vote for it. They have to. They need the Medicaid money to pay for the tax cuts and they want those tax cuts. It’s not a health care bill. It’s a bill to cut health care and fund tax cuts.

They can’t do the giant tax cuts for rich people without killing some poor people. It’s harsh but it’s true. They’re now literally killing for tax cuts. People used to say this would eventually happen – now it is.

Every time they waver they’ll end up back at tax cuts – they need the Medicaid money.

caphilldcne says:
June 26, 2017 at 6:32 am
Since you asked, here is what I have heard:
There will be numerous D.C. responses including some based in activism. Look for more from Planned Parenthood, MoveOn, SEIU, Protect Our Care, the Hub, Center for American Progress . The most accessible appear to be:
three key moments we need to maximize turnout.
• Tuesday, The People’s Filibuster Launches @ 2pm – Invite your members, staff, everyone to join us at 2pm in Section 9 (see map) for the kick off of the Filibuster! We’ll get a Facebook invite out soon!
• Wednesday Hug the Senate Action – Evening (Exact time TBA) – We’ll be forming a human chain around the Senate building, holding up photos of the people whose stories have been shared over the course of the week, a moment of silence for those who will be harmed. More info coming, including a Facebook invite to circulate.
• Thursday Rapid Response Rally 3-7pm – Hours before the bill vote is the moment to turn out in front of the capitol and we need bodies! Facebook invite coming soon.

Also: Our friends in the faith community are organizing a vigil from Wednesday at 3pm to Thursday at 3pm and we encourage folks to come out and support this as well.

Groups that I work with are planning to speak at Tuesday People’s Filibuster. Many people living with or affected by HIV plan to be wearing red at the Tuesday event. You can probably be kept most up to date by following planned parenthood or Move On on facebook. Please come out.

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